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<TITLE>An Introduction to Scheme and its Implementation - Expressions</TITLE>
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<H3><A NAME="SEC11" HREF="schintro_toc.html#SEC11">Code Consists of Expressions</A></H3>

<P>
Like Lisp, Scheme is written as prefix expressions, with parentheses
for grouping.  Prefix means that the name of an operation comes
first, before its operands (the things it operates on).

</P>
<P>
In Scheme, there's no distinction between expressions (like arithmetic
operations) and statements (like an <CODE>if</CODE> or a loop or a declaration).
They're all "expressions"---it's a very general term.

</P>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="schintro_12.html#SEC12">Prefix Expressions</A>: Parenthesized prefix expressions
<LI><A HREF="schintro_13.html#SEC13">Values and Side Effects</A>: Expressions return values, but may have side effects
<LI><A HREF="schintro_14.html#SEC14">Defining Variables and Procedures</A>: Defining variables and procedures
<LI><A HREF="schintro_16.html#SEC16">Definitions vs. Assignments</A>: Definitions name storage, assignment
                                       changes stored values
<LI><A HREF="schintro_15.html#SEC15">Most Operators are Procedures</A>: Most operators are procedures
<LI><A HREF="schintro_17.html#SEC17">Special Forms</A>: Special forms are not procedures
<LI><A HREF="schintro_18.html#SEC18">Control Structures are Expressions</A>: Control structures are expressions that return values
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